The Poison Tea Party

Episode 36 - The Burger Chef Murders

On November 17th, 1978, four teenagers, who were working the closing shift at the local Burger Chef, mysteriously went missing. When it was discovered that money was missing from the till, the Police believed the teens had stolen the money for themselves and abandoned the restaurant. Two days later, all four missing teens were found in the woods of the neighboring county, murdered, leaving officials scrambling for answers. With no shortage of suspects and despite many promising leads, this case has never been solved. Grab your favorite poison and have a seat at the table. See if you can solve the infamous Burger Chef Murders.

Episode 35: The Legend of the Bell Witch

Between the years of 1817 and 1821, in Red River, Tennessee, the Bell family experienced something so remarkable that even a future president went on record to say he couldn't explain it. It is said that the Bell family was cursed by a witch. It seemed there were no lengths the unseen entity wouldn't go to torture the family's patriarch, John Bell, and his oldest daughter, Betsy. Over time, word got out about the unusual happenings on the Bell farm, and people came from far and wide to try to solve the case of the Bell witch. Was it all just a hoax, or was there really an evil spirit hellbent on creating chaos for the Bell family? Join us as we investigate the true legend of the Bell Witch. 

Episode 34: Howl at the Moon

Since the time of the Vikings, humans have passed down stories of a mysterious, half-man, half-beast figure with an insatiable, bloodthirsty hunger for flesh. And even in modern times, some have claimed to have been attacked or to have seen the beast with their very own eyes. Is the werewolf truly just a supernatural character that makes a great scary story, or is there something deeper hiding in the darkest part of our own consciousness, a savage beast that can not be tamed? Pull up a chair to the Poison Tea Party and join us as we chat about werewolves!!

Episode 33: Freak of Nature: The Incredible Life & Death of Lobster Boy

In 1840, the freak show was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in America. And it only grew from there when prominent businessman P.T. Barnum created a way to capitalize on individuals born with disabilities by including their acts in his traveling circus. For the next hundred years, the freak show flourished, creating wonder, curiosity, and fear in the general public. In 1944, one of the most successful acts, known as Lobster Boy, took the stage for the very first time at the age of seven. No one could have ever known that this deformed child would someday grow into a real-life monster. Join us as we talk about the incredible life and death of Grady Stiles Jr., Lobster Boy. 

Episode 32: Blood Sport: Brutality in the NFL

The leaves are turning, there's a chill in the air, and that can only mean one thing: it's time for football!!!! But before the first kickoff of the official season, we wanted to explore some of the darkest parts of football and the crimes and violence committed by the sport's biggest stars. Why are some of these players, who seem to have everything, so prone to fits of rage? Why are they so commonly defined by acts of violence, abuse, and murder? And why are these alarming and recurring behaviors so easily dismissed? Join us while we discuss this blood sport and the brutality in the NFL.

Episode 31: The Circleville Letters

In 1976, Mary Gillispie of Circleville, Ohio, began receiving disturbing, anonymous letters accusing her of having an affair with the local school superintendent. What Mary didn't know was that choosing to ignore those letters would set off an incredible series of events that would span two terrifying decades. This case is a twisting spiderweb full of lies, conspiracy, and murder that has captivated the entire nation, even all these years later. Pull up a comfy chair and pour yourself a cup of your strongest poison; you're going to need it if you think you're going to uncover the true author of the Circleville letters.   

Episode 30: Simpsons Did It

You know we are HUGE suckers for witty animated television shows, and there is no series more popular than The Simpsons. But aside from the incredible, raunchy humor, there is something else about this show that has left fans and haters alike completely perplexed: its ability to predict the future. That's right!! For decades, the creators of The Simpsons have been forecasting major world events, from sports scandals to futuristic technologies, to the Trump presidency. The Simpsons, somehow, seem to know it all! But how? This week, we take a look at some of the wildest predictions that have come to pass and explore how they do it.   

Episode 29: De-Dicked: The John & Lorena Bobbitt Story

On June 23rd, 1993, Lorena Bobbitt made headlines worldwide when she infamously used a kitchen knife to teach her husband a bloody lesson. The woman claimed instances of brutal rape and abuse in the marriage led her to commit the savage crime but as the intimate details of their life were plastered across the tabloids, some weren't so sure. The 90s were a time of sensational courtroom dramas, but nothing could have prepared America for this. Pull up a chair & pour your favorite poison as we discuss a case for the ages; De-Dicked: The John & Lorena Bobbitt Story. 

Episode 28: Hell Hotel - The Dark History of the Cecil Hotel

In 1927, the Cecil Hotel was constructed as a million-dollar modern marvel in the heart of Los Angeles, California. It was meant to appeal to the middle-class business traveler, but soon after it opened its doors to the public, something sinister began to take hold. The Great Depression, brought on by the stock market collapse, sent the area into a tailspin, and the Cecil Hotel paid the ultimate price. Plagued by rapes, murders and suicides, and surrounded by one of Americas most notorious neighborhoods gifted the Cecil Hotel with a rough reputation. Grab your poisons and join us as we discuss the dark history of one of our nation's most vile hot spots, the Cecil Hotel.

Episode 27: Honor Thy Mother

Why are moms so amazing? This week, we get a little personal and share stories of our moms while exploring the science behind what makes a mother tick. Grab your poison tea party guests and prepare to take a walk down memory lane as we all think back to our childhoods and attempt to understand why our moms let us live. This is our honorary episode to mothers everywhere, Honor Thy Mother.